Leader: Ms G Hodgkins

Offered

Clayton First semester 2008 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

Special aspects of rural populations in Australia necessitating modifications to treatment and service delivery strategies. Major areas include population structures, migration patterns, distribution of Aboriginal populations and the study of cultural differences between urban and rural Australia; Epidemiology of mental illness in rural Australia; Development strategies for mental health service delivery in rural Australia including Aboriginal populations and crisis response strategies in rural and remote areas; economics of service delivery to rural and remote areas and the implications of demographic structures of rural communities for delivery of care; Mobilising community resources in rural areas; Adaptation of psychological techniques for low frequency contacts; and electronic media, video conferencing and the potential of new technologies, technical aspects of use of such methods and integrating them with other service delivery methodologies.

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit, students will have:

1. Knowledge of the nature and descriptions of Australia's rural communities;
2. An understanding of mental health service delivery issues for rural areas including specific strategies applicable to clinical care in rural areas;
3. Knowledge of special needs of Aboriginal populations and processes to meet those needs;
4. An understanding of mental health service delivery issues for rural areas including specific strategies applicable to clinical care in rural areas;
5. Knowledge of special needs of Aboriginal populations and processes to meet those needs;
6. An understanding of the state of knowledge regarding mental illness in these communities;and
7. An awareness of issues relating to suicide in rural Australia.

Assessment

Two written assignments consisting of a two-part learning journal weighted at 30% and a major essay weighted at 70%. Both must be passed to pass the unit.